HEALTH CARE AGENCY

2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Developed a solid public health infrastructure for providing COVID-19 Testing Sites to increase the capacity for responding to countywide testing demand by offering super sites as well as take home COVID-19 testing kits. This effort was accomplished through internal and external collaborations to secure public and private partnerships for addressing COVID-19. • Coordinated resources needed in the health and medical systems to manage acute patient surges and community impacts by distributing over 23 million units of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical supplies and ventilators. Also, deployed massive mobile field hospitals (MFH) at five hospitals throughout the County to expand capacity for COVID-19 patient surges. Subsequently, some clinics were converted into vaccination sites for the community. • Implemented an enhanced release process for adults leaving jail custody to ensure a smooth transition and continuation of services from jail to community. Individuals being released were provided education, resource referrals, a supply of prescribed medications, and other needed services to prevent any gaps in necessary health services post discharge. Special education and referrals were conducted specifically related to decreasing the spread of COVID-19. • Executed a comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Through Project Roomkey, the County provided non-congregate shelter to 3,413 vulnerable persons experiencing homelessness who were sick or symptomatic with COVID-19 or high-risk for severe COVID-19 illness. Additionally, the County acquired two motels through the State’s Housing and Community Development’s Homekey Program for a total of 132 non-congregate interim housing rooms that will be converted to permanent supportive housing.

2021 GOALS

• Develop and launch Operation Independence, a systematic and structured approach for providing the COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible Orange County residents in a safe and efficient manner, based on availability of supplies and competing community demands. The countywide initiative will vaccinate residents and workers to achieve herd immunity by July 4, 2021. A long-term sustainability plan will also be developed for ongoing vaccine efforts. • Operationalize a payer agnostic campus at South Anita Drive in Orange, in partnership with the private sector that offers the following programs: adult and adolescent crisis stabilization unit, recovery station, withdrawal management, crisis residential, substance use and co-occurring residential treatment. • Implement two countywide initiatives to significantly address homelessness in 2021. The County Emergency Rental Assistance Program will provide nearly $65 million in financial assistance to pay rental arrears and past due utilities for rental households experiencing financial hardships due to COVID-19. Additionally, launch the Care Plus Program to provide services through a multi-disciplinary team for those high utilizers of multiple County department services experiencing homelessness. • Develop, implement and sustain technology platforms and solutions to support data sharing and analytics capability enabling the development of population health and equity measurement strategies to help improve community health outcomes.